The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27

determining these things for them
selves; they submit to no priestly DOM
ination, and when it is attempted dis
aster usually befalls the scheme. If it
is successfully attempted, the success
lies in the fact of fitness. Who, then,
has any need or right to complain? Is
not the whole body honored in the sue
cess of this member2 If there sis pre-
vailing tendency to push aside the older
ministers to make places for young
graduates" which I seriously doubt,
let it be understood that back of the
tendency" lies not the clergy or Di-
vinity School, but the people them
selves; and let the aggrieved waste no
time in complaining, but rather hasten
to discover the reason why, and 80 cor
rect their own methods that the Item
dency" be checked. To be jealous of
another's position and work does not
exhibit much growth in Christian grace
wherein to "honor" another is primal
factor. To stand in the market place
waiting bidding to labor is ofttimes
to serve well; but to stand complaining,
berating those who are at work is dis
graceful, and the world has neither
time nor patience to give to such. 1t
says to each "Show us what you can do
to-day, not what others fail to do; show
us your superior methods, not denun-
citation Of the methods of others; tell us
what great practical truths you have in
keeping, not concerning the heresies of
others, and we will Judge for ourselves
between you as to which best answers
our need"
1t is about time for some one to say
in all kindness, that it is not the push
from without that shelves men, but the
lack of push within themselves. Were
the time they spend complaining and
belittling earnest, successful workers
as zealously employed in fitting them
selves for duty, there would be less
reason and occasion for grumbling.
Men with grievances" they are so
blinded by it that they fail to see the
injustice they do others, and how des-
picable they themselves become in the
minds of their hearers self-appointed
censors of their brethren in matters Of
faith, morals and social life, they meet
a censor's fate, are feared, distrusted,
dreaded aud let severely alone.
Another assertion in this remarkable
recommendation must be noticed !:
That young men are deferred from en-
tering the ministry because of 'sthe
prospect of being shelved at the age of
fifty or fifty five." If this be true, then
the church ought to give thanks in each
individual case for the blessed deliver
ance which has befallen it Such a
confession upon the part Of any young
man, is an exhibition of weakness
which would materially interfere with
his own success, and the highest we'll
being of the church. 1t indicates that
he expects at that age to have virtually
ceased work, and he stands aloof from
the ministry for fear the people will
not carry him while he rests on his past
labor. The fear is very we'll grounded !;
they will not; and by his remaining
outside the ranks, he saves us from
work made faulty and incomplete, and
from the presence of another complain
or because ''young men crowd" No
young man who is thoroughly coDse-
Grated to seeking, and to the
bringing forth of new treasures from
the inexhaustible wells of infinite
knowledge; who intends to keep his
veins full of the throbbing life of the
day in which he lives; who expects to
consecrate himself to this as he must to
any other profession to bring forth a
success, need turn away from the min
istry because of such fear. The world
will always have place for him, and
the people will hear him gladly, though
he be as old as Methusaleh.
This is not saying that he will find
wealth, for that as an object of pursuit
is supposed to be far removed from the
mind of the would-be minister; nor
that he will have metropolitan pull
pit" of which there are not enough to
goaround; but that the "logic of events"
in the long run deals justly with men
and gives them what they deserve,
which Is proportioned to what they are;
that there is plenty of work for every
man,-not perhaps after his way, but
after Gods way that for it there is
remuneration. Scores of parishes but
wait the coming of the man who, en-
tering in of his own accord, 'takes
the fort" and goes to work with enough
faith in his God, and in himself to trust
that it shall not be without avail. If
the people do not "call'' man, it is
reasonable to suppose that either they
do not know him, or see nothing in him
which constitutes reason why they
should call him. If this seems an error
to any one, let him go to work on his
own responsibility and show what there
is in him worthy of attention and sup
port. With the proof will come the